Pleating for slip covers and draperies



June 27, 1950 E. J. MARTENS 2,512,868

PLEATING F OR SLIP COVERS AND DRAPERIES Filed April 19, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

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W INVENTORZ HIS ATTORNEYS.

June 27, 1950 Filed April 19, 1948 E. J. MARTENS PLEATING FOR SLIP COVERS AND DRAPERIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1956 as PATENT OFFICE:

PLEATING'FOR' SLIP COVERS AND' DRAPERIES Ernest J Martens, St. Louis; Mo. Applicationnpril 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,897'

This invention-relates to the pleating of slip covers and draperies and in its-- more spt'sciiicaspects isdirected to a more 'efii'cien't and expeditious means and method of forming pleats with said means which will enable qui'ck uniform formation of pleating and the uniform spacing of: groups of pleating on the slip-covers or draperies;

Another obj ectof the invention is the provi sion of a stiffening material to be applied tetheslip covers or'draperi'es' in which-the stiffening; material has uniformly spacedmembers appliedthereto or formedthereinthat cooperate'with -a draw member provided'witlr un-iformly spac'ed' devices, such as-notches. into' whi ch a selecte'dnumber of a the uniformly-spaced members are collected to 'thereby form a group-*of uniformly sized pleats and to uniformly space thegroupsof pleats. V

In the-drawings: I Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofan article of furn-i ture' provided" with a coverportion which incorporatesthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of 'a= draperydneorporating the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enl arged view of one-of the valances in Fig.1 to whichthe invention is applied,

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of thereverse side' of a structureincorporating one form of the invention,

Fig; 5- is a sectional view taken substantiall y along the line 5--5 or Fig.4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the l'ine6-6"o'f Fig. 4,

Fig. '7 is a viewshowingtth-e structure-'of-Fig- 4 applied to fabric,-

Fig. 8 is a-sectional viewtaken: substantially" along the line 8'-'-8 of Fig. 7,-

Fi'g. 9 a sectional view taken substantially-'- along the line 99 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an elevatior al' view of a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line I l-l l of Fig. 10,

Fig. .12 is a view of another modification of the structure shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view takensubstantially along the line l3l3 of Fig. 12,

Fig. 14*is asectional view taken substantially along the line 14-44 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 15is a sectionalview taken substantially along the line-15 W 'of'Fig; 2

Referring now to Fig. ofthe-drawings the 7 Claims. (Cl. 2 -278) numeral I generally designatesan articleofupholstered furniture to which a slip cover'has been applied that is trimmed with valances land" 3'.

each of which is-constructed according to the teachings of this invention.

Referring to Figs; 3- to 9, the valance sis-shown secured to the slip cover 4 that is formed from asuitable fabric. A strip of stiffening material 5 preferably crinoline, is sewed along its upper edge" to the upper edge of the valance 3. This strip 5 has a plurality of pairs of slots 6; 6 'cut therein which result in the formation of loops 1; These loops are uniformly spaced along the length of: the strip 5. Inserted through the-loop -is a draw member 8 in which a series of uniformly spaced" notches S are out. These notches are made-by severing a small'portion from one of the' f'ol ds: of the member 8 to the fold line. Whenthe notched-draw member is inserted 'in the loops. three of the loops 1 aregathered into one of. the" notches 9 in draw member 8. This forms pleats I0 and I has shown in Figs. 3-a'nd-9 iii-particular.- These pleats,by reason of the spacing of notches 9 and loops I, bear a definite mathematical rela'-. tion one to the other andiare, thereforeuniformly sized and spaced. The draw member will have a certain amount of overlap, as shown in Fig; 9. This may be eliminated by severing along: the line 8"and then suitably securingthe draw'meme. her to the strip 5- inany suitable manner. I results in a heater appearing piece' of work.

When the pleats are formed they are folded flat against the valance material and a: line of:- stitching is then' applied to firmlyhold: them in i position whereupon the valance may b'e'iristalle'don the slip cover material thy-sewing or-other wise securingitthereto.

Fig. 10 shows'a modified construction in which a strip of stiffening material l2,'s'imilar to' strip 4, issewed along its upper'edge to one edge'of the drape material 13. The loops in thistillustra' tion are staples M'uniformly spaced al'ong the length of the strip. Inserted in these-stapleloops. is a draw member-l-Shaving notches lG'cu-t therein; which are similarly"formed and' unifo'rmly spaced as arenotches 9- described'abov'e:

Fig. 12 shows still-another modified formof theinvention in which the strip of'stiffening material- I I is 'a web ofcoarsely woven fabricmadefrom' i a heavy" yarn and "is sewed at its-upper edge to the material I 8". Periodically along the length of the strip I 1 one of the woof threads is lengthened to 'f'o'rmdoops Mk Ad-raw member 2fl', provided"' witha plurality of spaced 'notches':2t-

con structed in the same manner as draw." emberd above; is inserted through these roops [9. Y

The #1 processing of tlie Figs. 10 andi 2- dis- 1 thereof to the upper edge of the material 25 and draw member 26 is inserted through uniformly spaced loops 28. Four of these loops areth'en" gathered into one of the uniformly spacednotches 29 in draw member 26, thereby'forming'a'group of three pleats 30, 30, 30. These project from the material 25 and are not sewed back onto it.

The crinolinefrom-which the several draw members are formed has an inherent resiliency. This resilient quality is utilized in all forms illustrated and especially in the wirestapleand woof thread loops by having the edges of each'notc'h spring outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 15, after the desired number of loops are gatheredinto each notch. The same action takes place in all forms illustrated but is shown only in the drapery illustration. The notch edges then prevent the loops moving relative to the draw members, thereby causing the platesto retain their shape and position.

From the foregoin -it is believed that an expedient has been provided that will enable an unskilled. person to successfully perform the pleating of slip cover valances .and draperies so that the pleating will be uniforml sized as well as uniformly spaced by a proper selection of stiffening strips provided with loops suitably spaced, and a draw member likewise having suitably spac'ednotches into which a collection of a succession of loops are gathered to form or a threepleat group, or any other number, with complete assurance that each group will be uniformly spaced and identical in size.

What I claim is:

1'. A window drape comprising a piece of suitable fabricja strip of stiffening material sewed to'saidpfabric along one edge thereof; a draw; member having resilient properties and provided with a plurality'of uniformly spacednotches that are cut therein; and, a plurality of draw member supporting means uniformly spaced along the.

length of anfd 'associated with said strip of stiffening material, uniformly spaced groups of said supporting means, each comprising an equally numbered succession of said means, each group being gathered into selected notches spaced periodically along the lengthof said member and held therein by the flared edges of each notch to thereby form a plurality ofuniformly sized and spaced groups of pleats in the drapery.

2. A decorative article comprising a suitably shaped piece of fabric; a strip of relatively stiff material sewed to said fabric along one end thereof and having a plurality of uniformly spaced and sized loops formed therein; a' draw member positioned in said loops and having a plurality of uniformly spaced and sizednotches out therein; and a plurality of uniformly spaced groups of loops, each group formed from a series of successive loops in said strip, each group being gathered in selected uniformly spaced notches for pleating said strip.

3. A decorative article comprising suitably shaped piece of fabric; a strip of material sewed 110. the strip 24 (Figure is sewed alongoneedge.

to said fabric along one end thereof and having a plurality of uniformly spaced and sized loops cut therein; a draw member consisting of a folded strip of material and. positioned in said loops and having a plurality of uniformly spaced and sized notches cut in one fold of said strip; and a plurality of uniformly spaced groups-of loops, each group formed from a series ofthree successive loops in said strip, each group being gathered in selected uniformly spaced notches for pleating said. strip.

4AA furniture slip cover comprising a suitably shaped piece of fabric; a strip of material sewed tosaid fabric and having a plurality of uniformmember formed from a folded strip of material and in which a plurality of uniformly spaced lyspaced loops associated therewith; and a draw and sized notches are cut in one fold of said strip, said strip of material having u niformly spaced groupsof three successive loops assembled in selected uniformly spaced notchesflthe,

loops being held in said notchesbythe edges thereof for forming groups of pleats in said fabric.

5. A decorative article comprising a suitably shaped piece of fabric; a strip of relatively stiff material sewed to said fabric along. one end thereof and. having a pluralityv of uniformly spaced and sizedloop means thereon; a draw member positioned insaid loop means and having a plurality-of uniformly spaced and sized notches cut therein; anda plurality of uniformly spaced and sized groups of loop, means, each group formed from a series offour successive 100p.

means in said strip, each group being gathered in selected uniformly spaced notches in said draw member for pleating said strip.

a two pleat I 6.,A-decorative article comprising a suitably shaped piece of fabric; a strip of material sewed to said fabric along one edge and side thereof; a plurality of uniformly spaced staples secured to said strip of material; and a draw member arranged. in said staples and provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced and sized notches, said staples being collected into uniformly'spaced and sized groups thereof, each group comprising a series of successive stapleaeach group of stawples being collected in selected uniformly spaced notches in said draw member for forming pleats in said fabric. I

7. -A decorative article comprising a suitably shaped piece of fabric; a strip of loosely knitted wmaterial sewed to said fabric ,along one edge thereof in which uniformly spacedthreads extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said strip are elongated for forming loops; and agdraw member arranged in' said loops and provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced and sizednotches, saidloops being collected into'uniformly spaced groups, thereof, eachlgroup comprising a series ofJsuccessi-ve loops, each group of loops being collected in selected uniformly spaced q notchesfor forming pleatsinsaidfabric; j

' iERNEST-JpMARTENS-p E FNCFS CI j 73 The following references are -of record inith file of this patent: i 7 

